BETA PHOTO: The four popular moderate routes at the Salt Lake ...
Description
Salt Lake Slips proves that good things can come in small packages. There are only a handful of routes here, but I'll take this sort of quality over quantity any time.
Immediately to the left, there is a 40' cave area with some wicked sport climbs. Up and to the right are several moderate bolted routes.
Getting There
Salt Lake Slips is about 2.45 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon on the left side.
Enter through the Storm Mountain Picnic Area, cross the bridge, and walk west past the Storm Mountain Amphitheater.
Go up the hill, turn south, and follow the trail (turning southwest) to the top of the gully above the Slips. Descend the gully to the routes.
During very low water periods, you can park on the road opposite the climbs and safely cross the river. However, crossing the river at any other time is extremely dangerous; people have died attempting it.
An approach map is ?here?.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Salt Lake Slips:
The Slips are a great place to train a new climbing partner, as there are several relatively easy (5.6-5.8) sport routes side by side. There are also a few 5.10 routes around the corner. Nice variations in the climbs, and in a few hours you can do 3 or 4 routes. It is close to the base of BCC, so it's easy to get to after work in the summer.
To avoid crowds it is good to get there by 3 if you are with someone who is climb-shy. The wall is in the shade in the afternoon, and a climber could easily attach a top rope to any of the other routes instead of leading (if they wanted, but who'd do that?). All of the climbs seem to have their ratings because they have a short crux area, and otherwise they feel easier than rated, but are enjoyable anyway.
There is no longer parking on the North side of the road. The recent rain storms of last week washed out part of the road/shoulder from Stairs Gulch to the former parking area of the Slips.
Whats the deal with access now? Still no tyrolean?
I found the trail hard to follow even knowing where it was supposed to end up. Had some friends go down the wrong drainage and get a bunch of poison ivy. I think there needs to be some Caryn's or something. A good landmark though is the lone tree that looks like a bonsai or an umbrella - walk towards it and keep going it should be the next gully. I thought it was fun instead of going down the deadly scree field switch back thing to go over to the second pitch of whatever and rap down. Going up and out the gully isn't so bad.
By Ryan Peterson From: North Salt Lake, Utah Jun 5, 2007
It comes and goes. Please avoid it if it shows up and tell others not to put them up, it's dangerous and illegal, try to get more people using the path from Storm Mountain. It's a nice little hike.
The approach should be abridged in the present description. ooo's map is the correct way, especially during high water periods. Volunteers with the SLCA have built a great trail over from Storm Mountain. Use it. Kudos JK!
I have taken a lot of beginners here and they loved it. There are some somewhat crimpy holds and you'll need to tell beginners to learn to trust there feet. Approaching it from the road can be tough if the river is high. you may need to park up canyon storm mountain in spring time.
Print a Mini-Guide - Includes Routes!
RSS Feed
Slideshow
